ASTONISHING CCTV footage shows a man stealing a BMW from a car dealership forecourt and almost running over a salesman as he sped away.
Salman Rahman of Shawn Dream Cars on Longford Road, Coventry, has appealed for support to protect his business.
He says the site of the family business – which also includes Shawn Furniture and Carpet Warehouse – has become targeted by increasingly audacious criminals.
The footage he handed over shows a salesman attempting to prevent a £14,000 BMW car from being stolen, nearly being run over in the process.
Mr Rahman said: “A customer came over to look at the car, he starts looking around the car.
“Then he asks for the key to inspect it from the inside.
“The poor guy trying to stop him, he didn’t care, he pushed him away and just drove the car off.
“We wanted this to be published because we have had so many situations like this within just a year, that we had no choice than to spread the word and let locals know we are worried.
“The police are not taking any action, we have had robberies, one after another, so we are just becoming an easy target.
“We’re feeling so unsafe. It has come to the point where we are so scared by it we are wondering whether to carry on running the business or not.”
Mr Rahman said other recent crimes include a commercial van being stolen and numerous robberies.
West Midlands Police said: “Police are investigating after a car was stolen from the forecourt of Shawn Dream Cars, Longford Road, Coventry, at around 2.15pm on Monday, September 17.
“A man, described as white and in his late 20s or early 30s, asked a staff member for the keys to inspect a black BMW but once inside he made off in the vehicle.
“The staff member who was next to the vehicle was forced to move out the way but was unhurt.
“Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am to midnight, call 101 anytime quoting crime reference number 20CV/212873H/18 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
See the video here: 20180917155515020_577265677_2_trans (1)
